The goal of the visit was to “emphasize Congress’ leading role in the U.S.-Taiwan relationship and affirm American support,” according to the release.

Sens. Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) were also part of the delegation.

“China is actively preparing a move of aggression to force unification with Taiwan, a sovereign democracy,” Curtis said in the release. “Because of Taiwan’s location and pivotal role in the global economy through its innovative high-end semiconductors, an attempted attack on Taiwan could trigger a $10 trillion global economic shock, immediately contracting the U.S. GDP by roughly 10 percent. That catastrophe would hit American factories, businesses, and households harder than the Great Depression, and a successful invasion of Taiwan would fundamentally change our world and put global freedom and democracy at risk for current and future generations.”

Curtis said the U.S. is in favor of Taiwan President Lai Ching-te’s special defense budget request and encouraged its adoption by the Legislative Yuan.

“The $40 billion proposal is a direct assessment of the capability gaps that Taiwan needs to deter and, if necessary, defeat China,” Curtis said in the release. “Taiwan must urgently adapt its defense strategy by focusing on asymmetric warfare and technological innovation.”

The delegation met with Lai, Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim, Foreign Minister Lin Chia-Lung, National Security Council Secretary General Joseph Wu and President of the Legislative Yuan Han Kuo-yu, as well as a group of Legislative Yuan members.

According to background information provided in the release, China President Xi Jinping said during a 2022 Chinese Communist Party gathering that “… [W]e will never promise to renounce the use of force, and we reserve the option of taking all measures necessary” when it comes to unification with Taiwan.

“Xi has instructed his military to be ready to invade Taiwan by 2027. To this end, the PRC regularly engages in both naval-based military demonstrations surrounding Taiwan and ‘gray zone’ noncombat operations to erode Taiwan’s military advantages and readiness,” the release stated.

The People’s Republic of China has never ruled any part of Taiwan, yet still claims Taiwan as a ‘breakaway province’ of China, according to the release.

Mao Ning, a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, formally denounced the delegation in a statement Tuesday, according to the release.

The statement, the release said, advised the United States to “cease all contact with Taiwan and ‘stop sending any wrong signals to ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist forces.””

Curtis served a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to Taiwan and speaks Mandarin Chinese, the release stated.

Contact Standard-Examiner editor Ryan Comer at rcomer@standard.net.